Fire escape



FIRE ESCAPE Filed March 14 61H02 nait 'persons ltoescape from burning Patented Apr. iaieze.

i GEORGE 4movaDer roarljeveap, NEW'MEXICO. l

FIBEESCAPE--Q l rApplication fnedMerch 14, 1925',`v semaine. 15,5152."

Beit known that I, GEORGE H. BROWN, a 'citizen ot the United States, residing at Fort Bayard, in the county of Grant and State of NewvMeXic'o, have invented certain new-andxuseful Improvements in AFire Escapes, ot which the following. is a specification. f

Ihisl'invention rela-tes to an improved fire escape ot the type. employedi'or enabling buildings.

The invention hasyparticu'lar reference to ak deviceof this class which is adapted` to be suspended fromg'a window or other relatively 'stationarypait the structure vembodying Va drum, upon which V'a vlie'epxible element` is wound` andV adaptedy to Abe unwound slowly while Vthe devicedescends towardthe ground.

-Av particularadvantage is derived from the use 'of a belt or the -like,which is wound upon a relatively wide drum, this drum'being provided with gears and these gears being meshwith pinions on apair otbrakes under the control of the individual using the device, wherebyr to permit `the drumv to be rotated-"freely ori its rotation retarded, to

govern the speed'of descent.

1 The particular details employed'forcarrying the invention into effectl twill kbecome clear, Vafter carefully consideringthe following description in-connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, and in whicl'i like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

- Figure 1 is a side view, in elevation and section, showing a fire escape constructed in accordance with the present invention.

vFigure 2 is a.' central vertical` section, taken approximately upon the plane of' the line 2 2 of Figure 1, with one of the brake bands removed, and with certain parts'shown in elevation.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional and elevational view, showing a slightly different embodiment of the invention.

Attention is iirst confined to Figures 1and 2, wherein it will be seen that the reference character-1 designates, as a whole, a casing of appropriate configuration. In the present showing, the greater portion vof the top of the casing is of substantially discular formation, while thevbottom portion is substantially rectangular. Mounted for rotation in the casing is a rotor 2*,

V'or the like 7 is attachedto the free endo'f the belt and is intended, inpractiee, tobe an- Afor rotation in any desirable lfashion.y

lower portion of the casing tom and lower part ot the rotor. l Thesel '2115.05 ibrakeb'andsllvr are attached :tofa nutV 12` including a central .v hub3,'1having journals mounted tory rotation in opposedfacesy of' the casing, and one journal being extended to .accommodate a. hand crank 4.; Thev rotoralso embodies discular side plates having toothedperipheries converting 't'hemQinto gears'- I desired, 'the'y plates maybe'pr'ovided with an appropriate number ot holes 'to red-nce the weight 'considerably. Asseenfrom the drawing, a belt orV its equivalent ,6,l has itslupperendextend- `-ing through a slot, in thetop ofthe` casing,

*thel opposite vend thereof being adapted to be wound upon the lhub 3. Airanchoringring chored upon a relatively `stationary part.' of

thebuild-ing.'l It wil-lbe noted,particular from Figure 1, that the upperportion ot-the belt passesvbetween guide 'rollers 8 mounted t will` be noted-also from Figure' 1 that the rotor occupies the 'maj or vportion of the casing, butythattwo relatively small brake drums 9v areimounted for' lrotation in the drums'jareprovided with confining flanges 10 for the vbrake-bandk 11. `It willy be noted,

thatth'e-inner f adjacent ends of the two while the opposite outer-'ends aretastened to eyebolts 13." Thumb nuts'14 are threaded upon thezscrew threaded shanks of the bolts 13 to provide. adjusting and anchoring means for these operates with a swivelled bolt 15, with which a handwheel 16 is associated.v This hand wheel is located in a hanger frame or yoke 17, fastenedto the bottom of the casing. It is yet to be observed that the shafts of the so l between the'bot-v v ends ot the hand. The nut 12 co-y l brake drums carry small pinions 18 meshing j with the gears 5. yIt is obvious from this constructionl that the brake band 11 .may be partially adjusted to increase friction `through the means of thumb nuts and bolts 18 and'14. Aiurther adjustment may be made by a rotation of the hand wheel 16. This hand wheel may be operated during the descent of the device. i

Iny practice, the ring 7 is secured upon a window sill or the like, and the user attaches himself to the casing, through the means of a saddle, harness kor the like (not shown), which is intended to be connected to the yoke 17. Under the action of the weight of the.

person, the device will descend slowly to- -and the intermediate portion oi' the bolt 2l,

this plate carrying a ring 24, With which av Isaddle (not shown) may be connected. This form ol the invention is adaptedE to permit the person to grasp the hand grip and to hang from the device, While it is descending. In this form of the invention, the brake bands 25, which are trained over the drums` 26 are controlled in a different Way. As shown, adjustable eye bolts 27 are associated With the inner ends ot' the band, while tinger operated levers 28 having finger grips 29 are connected with the opposite ends of the band for tightening the same. The `method of operation of this embodiment ot the invention is substantially the same as that already described.

It is thought that the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing will enable persons familiar with devices of this class to obtain a clear understanding of the invention. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming Within the filed of invention claimed may be resorted to, it desired.

I claim:

l. A tire escape or' the class described comprising, in combination, a casing, a rotor mounted for rotation in the casing, said rotor embodying a gear, a pair of oppositely disposed brake drums mounted for rotation in the casing beneath said rotor, said brake drums being provided with pinions in mesh with said gear, a belt Wound upon said rotor and adapted to have its free end connected with a relatively static-nary part of a supporting structure, brake bands adjustably connected at one end With said casing, and variable means under the control of the user for regulating' the tension of the brake .bands simultaneously upon said brake drums during the period of descent.

2. A .tire escape of the class described comprising, in combination, a casing, a rotor mounted for rotation in the casing, said rotor embodying a gear, a pair of oppositely disposed brake drums mounted for rotation in the casing beneath said rotor, said brake drums being pro-vided with pinions in mesh with said gear, a belt Wound upon said rotor and adapted to have its free. end connected with a relatively stationary part of a supporting structure,bralre bands adj ustably connected at one end with said casing, and variable means under the control of the user for regulating the tension of the brake bands simultaneously upon said brake drums during the period of descent, said means comprising a pair ot' pivotally mounted levers having finger pieces at-.their inner ends, said tinger pieces being arranged in close proximity to permit them to be conveniently grasped by the operator.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

GEORGE H. BROIVN. 

